Disappearing clearance light for truck bodies



Oct. 16, 1951 A, E, HARGIS 2,571,130

DISAPPEARING CLEARANCE LIGHT FOR TRUCK BODIES Filed Feb. 16, 1948 2 SheetQ-Sheet 1 Oct. 16, 1951 HARGls 2,571,130

DISAPPEARING CLEARANCE LIGHT FOR TRUCK BODIES Filed Feb. 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 57 i 23 54-4 I, W25: 4 .30

ARNOLD EHARG15 Patented Oct. 16, ,1951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISAPPEARING CLEARANCE LIGHT F TRUCK BODIES Arnold E. Hargis, Portland, Oreg.

Application February 16, 1948, Serial No. 8,531

2 Claims.

lights such as are used on trucks and vans.

The main object of this invention is to provide a clearance light which will not be injured by contact with an object, due to the relative movement of the light or object.

The second object is to construct a clearance light of the type described which will be easy to manufacture and to install and which will be very efficient in its operation and which will, at the same time, contain lateral reflectin elements.

1 accomplish these and other objects in the manner set forth in the following specifications as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device with parts of the mounting cut away to disclose the device.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the de vice showing the normal position of the clearance light.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the lamp pushed out of the way by an obstruction.

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the lamp projecting beyond the surface of the truck body.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a section taken along the line 1-1 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the transparent cover for the light.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the lamp socket.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the contact bar holder.

Like numbers of reference refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown, by way of representation, the side wall I2 of a truck body, on which it is necessary to have clearance light which are required to project from the side of the wall I2.

Referring particularly to my invention, same will be seen to consist of a somewhat rectangular frame composed of the upper and lower members I3 and the vertical lateral members I4. This frame is secured to the walls I2 by means of the screws I5.

Extending backwardly from the opening I6, between the frame members I3 and I4, is a housing consisting of a bottom II, a top I8 and the 2 back walls I9 which are inclined with to the members I3.

The back walls I9 are joined by'the curved end 20 and the side walls 2| by means of the curved ends 22. Extending backwardly andgoutwardly from the bottom I1 and the top I8 are the trunnion shafts 23 and 24, which are threaded into their respective members I8 and H. The shafts 23 and 24 are stationary, the former carrying a bushing 25 of insulating material and the latter carrying a bushing, or contact bar holder, 26, also of insulating material, the space between which is bridged by a contact bar 21, to which current is supplied from a lead 28 from a convenient power source (not shown). It will be understood that the housing is provided with a ground 29.

Pivotally mounted on the trunnion shafts 23 and 24 is a lamp base 30 in whose boss 3| is mounted a lamp socket 32, having the usual slots 33 for receiving the side pins 34 of the lamp 35 and having the slots 36, through which the contact bar 21 can pass without contacting the socket 32.

The contact bar 2! is in the form of a spring which holds the lamp 35 in place as well as conducts current thereto. In the base 30 is formed an annular channel 35-A, into which extends the pin 31 which is mounted in the top I8. Between the pin 31 and the spoke 38, which forms both ends of the annular channel 36-A are placed the springs 39.

Mounted on the base 30 is a transparent lamp cover 40, whose flat parallel sides 4| are secured to the base 30 by means of the screws 42. The top 43 and the bottom 44 of the member 40 are parallel, while the sides 45 converge to form a rounded point 46.

It is desirable to provide reflecting elements 41 on the inner sides of the wall I9, to which they are secured by means of the screws 48.

The operation of the device is as follows: In the normal operation thereof, the member 40 would assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereas, if the member 40 encountered an obstacle 49, it might assume the position shown in Fig. 3, depending upon the relative movement of the truck and the obstacle 49. In any event, as soon as the obstacle 49 is passed, the light would again return to its position as shown in Fig. 2.

In addition to the protective feature, it will be seen that the reflecting surfaces 41 are also well out of harms way and at the same time provide complete visibility in a lateral direction.

I claim:

1. A clearance light comprising a housing havrelation 3 ing an elongated rectangular open side and having an outturned flange formed around said opening, the longer sides of said opening being horizontal, a metal lamp base rockably mounted in said housing on a vertical axis, a metal lamp socket mounted in said base, a contact bar mounted along the axis of said base and insumed 29 .1 said ho s and qket a lamp groundedin said socket and having its central electrode engaging said contact bar, a transparent cover on said base having a chisel-shaped point which, in normal operation, extends in a plane normal to the face of said qf-ran e, ,and springs for urging said cover toward itS;Ql1t1'-.: most position wherein it projects beyond the outer face of said flange.

2. A disappearing clearance lightjer,truclgs consisting of a horizontally disposed rectangular housing having an open side occupying avertical plane when mounted ona truck, a flange around the edge of said openside for engagingthe exterior of the truck body, a lamp base rockably -mounted in said housing on a vertical axis, a =lamp socket grounded in said-base having -a transverse hole therethrough along theraxis .of said base, a contact bar extendingthrough said hole and electrically insulated from thebaseeand out-of contactwiththesides of the hole in said 4 socket, an electric lamp mounted in said socket having its central electrode engaging said bar, and a hollow transparent cover for said lamp mounted on said lamp base, said cover having a chisel-shaped point normally occupying a vertical plane normal to the plane of said flange, a pair of opposed springs between said base and housing for urging said cover to its outermost position, means for supplying electrical energy 10 to said contact bar and a ground for said housing.

ARNOLD E. HARGIS.

:REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the -*file or -this patent:

- .UNITED STATES PATENTS liumber Name Date 2,066,981 Koca Jan. 5, 1937 20 3,115,600 Weston Apr. 26,}938 ;2,217-,174 Langille Oct.8, 1940 2,362,110 Meyerhoefer Nov.7, l9 4 4 FORE G PA E T v25 Number Country Date 658,088 Germany Mar. 22,1338 48,314 France septpl'i, 1937 (1st additionto 814,908) 

